Kelly (That's Me!)

What is in a name?  Are we defined by their meanings?

My name is Kelly, it is of Irish origin and can mean strife, war or bright headed.  I was actually supposed to be named Lindsay Marie, don't ask, I don't know what my mom was thinking (no offense to all the Lindsay Maries out there, I like the name Lindsay but it doesn't suit me at all).  Right after I was born, when they asked what I was to be named my mother said "Kelly Suzanne".  I believe it was fate (or kismet if you would like another K word thrown in) that my mother changed her mind.  Kelly definitely suits me better than Lindsay ever would have.

I know that strife and war are not particularly positive words and they definitely are not ones that one would want to describe their child with, but I like to look at the meanings in a different light.  Strife usually means discord or angry/violent struggle, but its archaic definition is striving and I am striving constantly.  I am striving to be the best me I can be.  War can mean so many things, but it basically boils down to conflict.  Conflict is what drives us, for good or for ill.

I have made my name my own, it is a part of me and I guess it was meant to be.

How do you feel about your own name?